Ornithogalum plant named &#39;chesapeake starlight&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ornithogalum plant named ‘Chesapeake Starlight’ characterized by its strong, upright and long scapes; and dense corymbose racemes with numerous white-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOrnithogalum plant, botanically known as Ornithogalum thyrsoides, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Chesapeake Starlight’.

[0002] The new Ornithogalum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Beltsville, Md. and Escondido, Calif. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new freely-floweringOrnithogalums with unique and desirable flower colors and strong andtall scapes.

[0003] The new Ornithogalum originated from a self-pollination of aselection originating from a cross made by the Inventors of theOrnithogalum thyrsoides cultivar Bok Bay, not patented, with anunidentified selection of Ornithogalum thyrsoides, not patented. Thecultivar Chesapeake Starlight was discovered and selected by theInventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross ina controlled environment in Beltsville, Md. in 1994.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new Ornithogalum by tissue culture ina controlled environment in a laboratory in Beltsville, Md., has shownthat the unique features of this new Ornithogalum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar ‘Chesapeake Starlight’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, lightintensity, and water or nutritional status without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Chesapeake Starlight’.These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Chesapeake Starlight’as a new and distinct Ornithogalum:

[0007] 1. Strong, upright and long scapes.

[0008] 2. Dense corymbose racemes with numerous white-colored flowers.

[0009] In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors inBeltsville, Md., plants of the new Ornithogalum differ from plants ofthe cultivar Bok Bay, in the following characteristics:

[0010] 1. Plants of the new Ornithogalum flower about five weeks earlierthan plants of the cultivar Bok Bay.

[0011] 2. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have longer scapes than plantsof the cultivar Bok Bay.

[0012] 3. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have white-colored flowerswhereas plants of the cultivar Bok Bay have cream-colored flowers.

[0013] In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors inBeltsville, Md., plants of the new Ornithogalum differ from plants ofunidentified selection of Ornithogalum thyrsoides, in the followingcharacteristics:

[0014] 1. Plants of the new Ornithogalum are more freely flowering thanplants of the unidentified selection of Ornithogalum thyrsoides.

[0015] 2. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have stronger scapes thanplants of the unidentified selection of Ornithogalum thyrsoides.

[0016] 3. Plants of the new Ornithogalum have a denser (less open)flower display than plants of the unidentified selection of Ornithogalumthyrsoides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0017] The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overallappearance of the new Ornithogalum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ornithogalum. The photograph comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘Chesapeake Starlight’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0018] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Beltsville, Md., undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 27° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 13 to 21° C. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants used for thedescription and photograph were grown in 12.5-cm containers for about 20to 25 weeks after planting rooted tissue-cultured plantlets in the fall.

[0019] Botanical Classification: Ornithogalum thyrsoides cultivarChesapeake Starlight.

[0020] Parentage: Self-pollination of a selection originating from across of an unidentified selection of Ornithogalum thyrsoides, notpatented, with the Ornithogalum thyrsoides cultivar Bok Bay, notpatented.

[0021] Propagation:

[0022]Type.—Tissue culture.

[0023]Time to initiate roots from tissue-cultured micro-cuttings.—About10 days at 24° C.

[0024]Root description.—Quantity: About 30 to 40 primary roots arisingfrom bulb. Diameter: About 12 to 13 cm. Color: 159C.

[0025]Bulb description.—Appearance: Tunicate. Diameter: About 3.5 cm.Circumference: About 11 to 11.5 cm. Color: 161B.

[0026] Plant Description:

[0027]Plant form.—Upright flowering potted plant; inverted triangle.Leaves basal with central flowering stem. Flowers arranged in densecorymbose racemes.

[0028]Crop time.—Usually about 20 to 25 weeks are required to producefinished flowering plants in 12.5-cm containers from rootedtissue-culture plantlets.

[0029]Plant height.—About 55 to 60 cm.

[0030]Plant width.—About 30 to 40 cm.

[0031]Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple; basal; rosette; sessile. Quantity ofleaves per plant: About 6 to 8. Length: About 25 to 30 cm. Width: About3.5 to 4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture:Glabrous, smooth; longitudinally ridged. Color: Young and mature leaves,upper and lower surfaces: 143B; upper surface, slightly glossy;venation, 143B. Leaf sheath: Length: About 3.5 to 4 cm. Width: About 5.5to 6 cm. Color: 155B.

[0032] Flower Description:

[0033]Flowering habit.—Inflorescences scapose with single flowers,3-merous, arranged in dense corymbose racemes. Flowers not fragrant;flowers persistent.

[0034]Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the spring;flowering recurrent.

[0035]Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about oneweek; inflorescence last about six weeks.

[0036]Flower longevity as a cut flower.—Inflorescences last about 5 to 6weeks.

[0037]Inflorescence size.—Length: About 60 cm. Width: About 8 cm.

[0038]Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 to 10mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 145B.

[0039]Flowers.—Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant: About 50to 60 per flowering stem; each bulb produces about three floweringstems. Shape: Circular. Diameter: About 3.5 to 4 cm. Depth (height):About 2 cm.

[0040]Perianth.—Quantity/arrangement: Three petals and three sepals perflower; separate. Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape:Pyriform. Apex: Slightly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, waxy.Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155A. Fully opened, upperand lower surfaces: Apex and center, 155D; base, 152A; glossy.

[0041]Scape.—Angle: Erect. Strength: Strong. Length: About 50 cm.Diameter: About 1 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137A.

[0042]Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 4.5 to 5 cm. Diameter:About 3 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.

[0043]Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Single, subtending the perianth.Length: About 4 to 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Shape:Cymbiformis. Color: 137A.

[0044]Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six. Anther shape: Oval.Anther length: About 2 to 3 mm. Anther color: 163B. Amount of pollen:Moderate. Pollen color: 163B. Pistils: Quantity: One. Length: About 8 to10 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-sulcate. Stigma color: 158A. Style length:About 2 mm. Style color: 158A. Ovary color: 146B.

[0045]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0046] Disease Resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toOrnithogalums has not been determined.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ornithogalum plantnamed ‘Chesapeake starlight’, as illustrated and described.